Rod tilling implement



Dec. 2, 1958 i w GUYER 2,862,433

ROD TIL-LING IMPLEMENT Filed Sept. 22. 1955 j a Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.War/is fi/ 6 9 jazz/M4160 Dec. 2, 1958 M, w, GUYER 2,862,433

' ROD TILLING IMPLEMENT 7 Filed Sept. 22. 1955 8 Sheets -Sheet 2 Dec. 2,1958 GUYER 2,862,433

ROD TILLING IMPLEMENT Filed Sept. 22. 1955 8 sheets-sheet s 1366- 1958M. w. GUYER ROD TILLING IMPLEMENT Filed Sept. 22. 1955 '8 Sheets-Shea; 4

M. w. GUYER ROD TILLING IMPLEMENT Filed Sept. 22. 1955 Dec. 2, 1958 w,GUYER 2,862,433

ROD TILLING IMPLEMENT 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Sept. 22. 1955 INVENTORWarr/S /l/ @u /Z/ Dec. 2, 195a M, w, GUYER 2,862,433

ROD TILLING IMPLEMENT a Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Sept. 22. 1955 Wu \HHI,INVENTOR. I fiorr/s 11/ G'uyer Dec. 2, 1958 Filed Sept. 22. 1955 M. w.GUYER 2,862,433

ROD TILLING IMPLEMENT 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 IIIIIII'III.

Z/ INVENTOR.

Unite ROD TELLING IMPLEMENT Morris W. Guyer,Spokane, Wash, assig'nor 'toCa'lkins Manufacturing Company, Spokane, Wash.

Applieation'September22,1955, Serial No. 535,786 -15 Clai'ms. ,l. 9742)The present invention relates to improvements in a tillage implement.

In soil cultivation, itis :com'monpractice to use implements of the:general type disclosediin PatentNo. 2,355;-

taining uniform depth of penetration of the rod .through spots of hardground encounteredzin lthe :field.

While :implements of this type are extremely useful, they do havecertaindrawbacks. *For exampleythe :tillage'shovelsmust be angularly adjustablewith 'respect to the ground .so that they maybe adjusted to operate.properly under various soil conditions. To-be;practical, the

angular adjustment means :must be such that adjustment can be quicklymade in the field. :Yet thismeans-must be so designed that the mountingsfor the shovels and rodwdo .not .cause undue soil disturbance or leavefurrows 'in'the soil.

Another problem arises when the implement has finished its work and isto be raised for transportation. .Since the rod and shovels all travelbeneath the ground surface, considerable power is required to raise themachine clear.

It is the principal purpose of this invention to provide a tillageimplement of the type described wherein .a.ser i es of tillage shovelsare mounted so as to precede the rotary rod through the soil, theshovels being mounted for-quick and easy angular adjustment about therod.

A further purpose is to provide such a device wherein the shovelmounting and adjusting means are designed to cause a minimum of soildisturbance and furrowing.

Still another purpose of the invention is to provide a lifting mechanismfor the implement which maybe used as a single lever to lift and lowerthe rod and-shovel supporting frame, and which may be used under adverseconditions as a step by step ratchet lever at a greatly increasedmechanical advantage.

A still further purpose of the invention is to provide a States Patentcenter drive mechanism for the implement which is more efficient anduses fewer parts than common drive mecharusms.

The nature and advantages of my invention will appear more clearly fromthe following description and the accompanying drawings wherein apreferred form of the invention is shown. It should be understood,however, that the description and drawings are illustrative only, andare not intended to limit the invention except insofar as it is limitedby the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a tillage implement embodying'my invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the implement;

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the'implement;

o a. Figure 4 is an enlargedvertical sectional view of the implementtaken substantially on the line 44 of Figure l-except illustrating thetillage apparatus raised for transportation;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the drive:mechanism :for the rotary rod taken substantially onithe line '5-5 ofFigure "1;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line66'of Figure 2; 1

Figure 7 .isafragmentary elevational view 'o'f the construction shown inFigure 6v looking in the direction of the line "11'11 of Figure '10;

.Figure 12 -is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 1212 ofFigure 9;

Figure 13 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken onthe lineIS-13 of Figure-.1, illustrating the depth .control mechanism;

Figure -14 is a view similar to Figure 13 except illustrating the depthcontrol lever adjusted'to .givethe operator an-additional mechanicaladvantage;

Figure 15 is an enlarged fragmentary sectionalview taken on the line-15--1'5 ;of{ Figure 13 and Figure 16 is an enlarged fragmentarysectionalview taken on the line 1616of Figure 13. V 7

Referring now to the drawings, and to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 inparticular, my invention is shown asembodied in a tillage implementconstructed similar -to the commonly known rod weeder. The'implement hasa main frame 10 comprised of two spaced apart longitudinal beams Hand12, connected at their rear ends by a cross member 13. A pair of casterwheels 15 and 16'SL1PPQIT. the rear-of the frame 10. The front ends ofthe beams 11 and lz are .pivotally connected to a transverse beam 17.The beam 17 has thereon depending bearing brackets 18 whichrotatablymount anaxle .19. Front supporting wheels .20 are mounted at each-end-ofthe axle 19. The front transverse beam 17 also forms partof a vertically,pivota'ble. gooseneck supporting frame 21. The frame '21 is connectedat the rear to the frame 10 by alifting mechanism 22, described laterherein, which permits vertical angular adjustment ofthe frame 21 tocontrol the depth of soil cultivation by the machine. The implement isdrawn through the fields by a powered vehicle (not shown) which isconnected by suitable means to hitching brackets 23 secured to the beam17.

h The frame 21 has fixed thereon a plurality of depending rod supportinggooseneck standards 24 which curve 'downwa'rdly'and forwardly under theimplement. Each of the standards 24 carries at its lower end a shoe 25,described in detail later herein. 'The shoes rotatably support bearingspools 26, which in turn support a square fltransverse'rod 27. The rod27 is \adapted'to rotate in the shoes 25 as the machine is drawn through'the ;fie'l'd. v

The rod 27 is driven by means of a center drive mechanism which will nowbe described. On the frame 21, and'spaced between two of the goosenecks'24,.a pair 3 second U-shaped plate 31 which is inserted between thewalls a and 30b and welded into place. The U-shaped plate 31 ispositioned so that its side walls 31a and 31b lie adjacent the walls 30aand 30b and its connecting wall 310 faces to the rear. The plate 31extends a short distance below the lower. end of the boot 30, and has aspacing block 32 fixed between its walls 31w and 31b.

A pair of spaced apart shoe plates 33 and'34 are ipositioned at thelower end of the boot 30 .at eachside of the extended portion of theplate 31. The'shoe plate 34 is welded to the wall 30a of the boot 30 andthus permanently fixed thereto. The shoe plate 33 is secured in place bymeans of two countersunk screws 35 which are threaded into the spacerblock 32.. The shoe plates 33 and 34 are secured together at theirforward ends by a nose piece .36.

Each of the shoe plates 33 and 34 has therein a squared aperture 37which receives the squared portion of a bearing member 38.. The bearingmember 38, shown in Figure 8,' is comprised of three portions, a smallcylindrical portion 38a at one face, a substantially larger cylindricalportion 38b at the opposite face, and an intermediate squared portion380. The bearings 38 are inserted into the shoe plates 33 and 34 fromthe inside so. that the'squared portion 380 rests in the aperture 37.The larger portion 38b of the bearing 38 rides against the shoe 33 or 34and prevents the bearing 38 from passing through the aperture 37. Eachof the bearings 38 has a central aperture 39 therein which receives ahub portion 40 of a sprocket 41. The sprocket 41 is thus rotatablymounted between the shoes 33 and 34. A squared aperture 41a in thesprocket 41 receives the rotary rod 27. h

In order to transmit rotational power to the sprocket 41 for rotatingthe rod 27, a chain 42 is provided. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, thechain 42 is wrapped in the form of a figure eight. Fixed on the axle 19below the frame members 28 and 29 is a drive sprocket 43 which receivesand drives the chain 42. The upper flight 42a of the chain extends fromthe sprocket 43 over an idler sprocket 44 mounted on brackets 45 securedto the members 28 and 29.- From the sprocket 44, the flight 42a extendsdown between the members 28 and 29 and in front of the boot 30. Theflight 42a passes between the shoe plates 33 and 34 and around thesprocket 41. The lower flight 42b of the chain 42 extends from the drivesprocket 43 rearwardly and upwardly over a second idler sprocket 46mounted on a bracket 47 secured to the frame 21 behind the brackets 45.From the idler 46 the flight 42b extends down between the walls 30 1 and30b of the boot 30 and engages the sprocket 41. 'When the implement isdrawn forward, the wheels 20 rotate the axle 19 and drive sprocket 43.The chain is driven in the direction indicated in Figure 3 so that itmoves upwardly in front of the boot 30. Since the two flights of chain42a and 42b must cross in order to drive the rod 27 in a directionopposite to the direction of travel, the idler sprockets 44 and 46 arelaterally offset one from the other, as shown in Figure 1. The idlersprocket 46 is mounted on the bracket 47 for vertical adjustment inorder to take up excess slack in the chain 42.

The center drive mechanism just described operates efliciently to drivethe rod as the implement is drawn through the field. The upwardly movingfront flight 42a of the chain 42 is positioned in front of the boot 30so as to elevate and dispose oftrash which accumulates on the boot. Inorder to assist in. this operation, a tightening sprocket 48, mountedbetween the walls 30a and 30b of the boot 30 and partially exposedthrough an aperture 49 in the front wall 30c of the boot, engages theflight 42a and keeps it taut. The particular figure eight formation ofthe chain 42 permits the direction rever sal between the axle 19 andI'QdlT with a reverse.

minimum number of idler sprockets and with a maximum length ofchain-to-sprocket driving engagement, thus producing an extremelyeconomical and eflicient drive: mechanism. The construction of the boot30 and shoe: plates 33 and 34 produces a sturdy but narrow drive supportwhich supports the drive mechanism properly with almost no undesirablesoil disturbance or furrow-- ing.

Since the implement is of considerable width, and since it is desirableto make sharp turns possible, clutches 50 are provided between each ofthe wheels 20 and the axle 19. The wheels 20 are rotatably mounted onthe shaft 19 and drivingly connected thereto by the clutches- 50. Eachof the clutches 50 comprises a ring gear 51 fixed on the wheel 20 and aratchet hub 52 fixed to the axle 19. A spring pressed pawl 53 is pivotedto the hub 52 and engages the gear 51. As may be seen in Figure 3, thepawl is so positioned that the wheel 20 cannot rotate forwardly on theaxle 19, but may rotate in When theimplement 'is turned, the wheel 20 onthe inside of the turn must slow down with respect to the other. Sincethe pawlis so positioned that forward rotation of the wheel 20 mustrotate the axle 19, the wheel 20 at the outside of the turn rotates onthe axle 19 in reverse, and the pawl 53 clicks over the teeth of thegears 51. When the slowed down wheels 20 regains its speed, the reverserotation stops and the pawl engages one of the teeth on the gear 51,causing both the wheels 20 to share the load of driving the rod 27.Since the axle 19 is always driven at the speed of the fastest rotatingwheel 20, the rod 27 does not slow down on turns.

To assist therotary rod 27 in cultivating the soil, and to keepthe'cultivation ata uniform depth, a series of tillage shovels 54 areprovided as shown best in Figures 1 and 2. The shovels 54 are mounted onshovel arms 55 which extend rearwardlyover the rod 27 The arms 55 haveslots 56 near their rear endswhich receive transverse bars 57. Setscrews 58 lock the arms 55 on the bars 57. There are two of the bars 57,one extending outwardly from each side of the boot 30 behind the rod 27.The bars 57 are supported both by the shoes 25 secured to the goosenecks24, and by the center drive boot 30.

Now in order to provide for etficient cultivation under varyingconditions, the shovels 54 must be angularly adjustable with respect tothe ground. This adjustment must'not hamper the operation of the rod, sothe relationship between the rod and the shovels must remain fixed. Thismay only be accomplished by making the shovels adjustable about the rodas a center. In order to provide such adjustable supports for thetransverse bars 5"], each of the shoes 25 is provided with a novel barsupporting construction. This construction provides a bearing for therod holding spools 26, angularly adjustable supporting means for thebars 57, and also provides for quick and easy access to the bearingmeans for replacement purposes.

Each of the shoes 25 (best shown in Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12) is made ofa plate 59 formed with a pointed tip 60 for cutting through the soil.The plate 59 is secured to the gooseneck 24 by bolts 61. In the plate 59is an aperture 62 shaped somewhat like a keyhole. The aperture 62 has afront portion 63 which is roughly circular in shape, and receives thespool 26 and rod 27, and a rear portion 64 adapted to receive thetransverse bar 57. As may be seen in Figure 11, the rear portion 64 isshaped to permit limited angular adjustment of the bar 57 about the rod27. a v

The front circular portion 63 of the keyhole aperture 62 is comprised oftwo semicircular halves, a front half 63a of a radius slightly smallerthan the radius of the end flanges of the spool 26, and a rear half 63bof a radius considerably larger than the radius of the end flanges ofthe spool 26. A semicircular bearing member 65 having a raised annularrib 66 thereon fits into the circularportiong63 of the-aper turez62 The.radius. of; the

.rib. 66 igsubstantially equal ttythaeofr the: rearrhalf 63b of theportion 63 and is received thereby. The rib. is equal-in thicknessto'the plate 59. The remainder of the. bearingmember. 65,- however, isconsiderably wider andextends outwardly oneach side. The bearing member65.has an .inner bearing; surface 67 which issubstantially equalinradius.to-thebody ofi thesp.ool 26.= When thebearing isin placeasshown inFigures Ll and 12, thespooli26-isloosely held inthezaperture formed bythe front half-63w of the-circular aperture 63 and the inner bearingsurface 67. of the member 65. The end flanges of. the spool 26:are'l'argerthan this'aperture so the spool 26 is'securedagainst-endwisemovement.

, In order. to support the=barq57z at a:fixed--point in the rearaperture portion- 64; a,=.pair of bar supporting plates -68- and69*areprovided; The plates 68 and 69 have circularapertures-70 thereinof radiusrequal to that of the outwardly;extendingzportions:ofrthebearingfiS. The plates, 68 and 69 arepos'itioned: at eachisideof'theshoe plate 59: so that; the apertures 70 receive the bearing 65.With" this construction,.the plates are-pivoted on the-bearing 65 aboutthe: rod 27: asa center. To provide for securing-the plates68tzand 69oneach side ofithe shoe plate 59,.threebolts. 71, 72 and 73 areprovided.The bolts 71'; 72..andv 73 extend through: holes formed in the shoeplate-59, and through slots- 74'formed intheplates 68and 69.: The slots:7'4are curvedl about the rod as a center,.so.-that when the"bolts571, 72and 73 are-loosened, the platesi;68 .andf69 are free topivot on thebearing-65. The bolts171 72'and 73'-may be tightened to secure theplatesl68- and 69 in place.- Theseplates 68 and 69-also operate to:secure the bearing 65 in place, since the rib 66 on the bearing 65" is:larger in diameter than the aperture 70E A=t the rear-of 'the plate 68,-a slot 75T-is formed.

The slot 75- receives andsupportsthe bar 57. The other plate 69 insteadof having-a similar slot therein,- has no elongated'rear portion, butinstead is formed so-as-to have a-notch 76 at its shortenedtrear edgewhich is aligned with the front-of the slot 75. -The bar 57 is receivedand supportedin thisnotch-7 6.- With this-construction, any dirt whichcollects ir'r-the rear portion 64'of the keyhole aperture 62 may passout'behind the rear edge of the plate 69-rather than be trapped andpacked so'as'tohinder adjustment of the bar 57;

With the novel bar and rod supportingshoe 25 just described,angularadjustment-of'the bar 57. may be easily accomplished. All thatmust be done. is to loosen the the bolts 71, 7-2 and 73-and then movethebar as desired within'thelimits of the slots '70 and the portion 64'of the keyhole aperture 62., Merely tightening up the bolts 71, 72and 73secures the bar in the desired position. Since the majority of the wearin the shoe occurs between the rotating spool 26'and the bearing 65,both ofwhich are easily replaceable at sm'all'cost, the life of the shoeis extremely great. As maybe seen in Figure 10, the shoe is verynarrowso the soil disturbance caused by drawing it through the ground isslight.

As stated hereinbefore, the transverse bars 57 are supported both by theshoes 25'and by the center drive boot 30. It is at the boot 30"that thebars, 57 are secured against endwise movement and also-at the boot 3%)that the angular adjustment means are provided. Positioned adjacent theoutside faces-of the shoe plates 33 and34 are two bar mounting ears 77and 78.. As may be seen in Figures 6, 7 and 8, the small cylindricalportions 380 of the bearings 38 protrude a short distance from the shoeplates 33 and 34. The ears 77 and 7% have apertures 79 therein whichreceive the protruding portions 38a so as to mount the ears 77 and .78for rotation about the rod27. The cars 77 and 78'extend rearwardlybeyond the rear edge of, the boot 3t), andare tied together by a pairotbolts 80 and 8 1. The bolts-80--and 81 extend throughcountersunkaholes in-the ear 77 and thread into; spacers '6 82 and 83welded to the other car 78; Thebolts 'and 81'hold the-ears 77-and78-against the shoe plates 33 and 34-andsprevent theirslippingputwardly therefrom-and off the bearings 38; p

Eachof" the ears 77 and 78.has' a socket 84 welded thereto as shown inFigures 6 and 8. The socket 84 is adapted-to receive the end of one ofthe transverse bars 57; To: secure thebar 571in' place, each-socket 84is provided: with-a set screw-85 and a lock-,nut-86..

withthertransverse shovel carryingbar 57" supported asdescribed both byth'e' shoes 25: and by theears 77 and 78,-- it is capable of. limitedpivotal adjustment about the -rod, 27. In-order; to provide an easymeans to adjustthe ,bar- 57,,an arm'. 87 is provided which extends fromthe ears 7-7 and 78 up, to; the angle irons 28 and 29. The arm E37 has asleeve 88 at its-lower end which; fits over the spacer 83'betWeen theears. 77 and 78: At its, upper end, the arm 87is'co'nnected-toaneccentric portion89 of atshaft 90.. Theshaft'90 is supported betweenthe members 28-. and 29.- A nut- 91 fixed-onthev shaft provides.means'for rotating the eccentric 89, which lifts or: lowers the. arm 87and=consequently pivots theears 77 and'78and the bars57.- It should beunderstood that beforethe: ears. 77 an-d78 can bepivotedto adjust thebars=57, the bolts,.71-,. 72' and 73 on each of. the'shoes ZSmust beloosened-topermit'the bars 57 to pivot.

The novel rotary rod andshovel supporting mechanism hereinbeforedescribedprovides-v an eflici'ent-and economi cal means bywhichEthe-rod27-is mounted for transverse rotation in the soil, and thetillage shovels 54 aremounted for limited angular; adjustment about therod 27 as a center; It shouldibe noted: that'with" the constructiondescribed-the shovels-54?'andi bars, 57 -may quickly'be removed ifdesired to enable theiimplement to. operateas a rodweederalone. Allthatneed' besdone is to'loosen thGr'SEtl'SCIE/W S- 581' on eachgof theshovelarmsSS and also'the-set. screws 851on. the sockets 84* whichreceive the ends ofthe bar 57; After this has been accomplished, thebars may be'p ulled. outwardly from each side of the implement,sliding-through the shoes 25, shedding. the shovels 54" as they go. i

Sincethe rod-27 and shovels 54 all'operate beneath the ground-surface,-considerable force'is required to pivot the frame 21 upwardly from theframex10 to lift the rod 27 'and shovels 54 clear'of the ground. Inorder to facilitate this operation, the lifting mechanism 22 is providedwith a novel construction which permits its use either as a straightlever :for liftingor lowering:in.one motion or as a step-by-step ratchetlever. at an increased mechanical advantage.

.;The; lifting; mechanism :22- comprises a wide: lever 92 fixed ontheend of'a: transverse shaft'93. The shaft 93 is rotatably mounted on theframe 21. Near the upper end-of the lever 92' a link 94 ispivoted. The.opposite end ofthe' link=,9,4'is1pivotedi toi-the' cross member 13 ofthe frame 10., Toraisethe frame 2I With; respect to the frame it thelever 92rmust be pivoted toward therear of the machine. Now in .order;to pivot the lever 92 without" undue, effort, a second; longer lever arm95 is provided; The. lever arm 95 is pivoted to the lever 92 by abolt-96. At the upper edge of'the lever 92, a guide strap 97" ismounted. The. strap. 97 extends across the top of the lever 92 and'issecured'thereto by bolts 98. Spacers 99, best shown in Figure 16, holdthe strap 97: away from'the lever 92.- As may beseen in Figures 15andl6, the lever arm 95 extends up between the lever. 92' and strap 97.In ordinary circumstances enough leverage may be obtained to -raise orlower the weight ofthe frame 21 by using the lever arm 95 as anextension. of the lever-92. To do, this, the lever arm.95 must benon-pivotatlly fixed to the lever 92;. However, 'with the constructionjust described, thearm 95 is free topivot about-theb'olt 96withinitherlimits of the spacers 99. In order to preventzthis'apivoting, a. wedge'lever 100i is pivotally mounted on oneof.:theispacers: 99. When the 7 wedge 100 is in the position shown inFigures 13 and 16, the arm 95 is held solidly, being secured between aspacer 99 and the wedge 100. With the arm 95 so secured, it acts as nomore than an extension of the lever 92. To hold the frame 21 at anyheight above the frame 10, a rack and pin assembly is provided. A rack101, curved about the shaft 93 as a center, is fixed to the frame 21. Adownwardly extending yoke 102 is fixed on the lever arm 95 and receivesthe track 101 between its separated portions 102a and 1021;. Each of theportions 102a and 10217 has an elongated slot 103 therein through whichthe horizontal portion of an L-shaped pin 104 extends. The pin 104extends up in front of the arm 95 and is slidably supported by a bracket105. A rod 106 is attached to the pin 104 and extends to a pin liftinglever 107 pivoted at the top of the arm 95. As shown in Figure 15, thehorizontal portion of the pin 104 engages the rack 101 to hold the lever92 in the desired position. By squeezing on the pin lifting lever 107,the pin 104 may be lifted clear of the rack 101. A spring 108 forces thepin down again when the lever 107 is released.

When the rod 27 and shovels 54 are embedded in the soil, much more forcemust be exerted on the lever 92 to raise the frame 21. To exert thisadditional force without undue strain on the operator of the lever 92,the arm 95 is constructed so that it may be used in a stepby-stepfashion at an increased mechanical advantage. To use the arm 95 in thisway, the wedge 100 is thrown back out of the way as shown in Figure 14.Then the lever arm 95 is free to pivot between the spacers 99 on thestrap 97. The operator grasps the arm 95 and lifts the pin 104 clear ofthe rack 101. Then he pushes the arm 95 forward as far as it will go.This causes the arm 95 to pivot on the bolt 96 and moves the yoke 102rearwardly. The operator then releases the pin lifting lever 107 and thepin 104 engages the rack 101 as shown in Figure 14. Now by pulling thearm 95 back, the operator pivots the lever 92 a short distance andraises the frame 21. In order to maintain the lever 92 at this positionwhile the arm 95 is pushed forward for another step, a pawl 109 isprovided on the lever.92. The pawl is spring pressed into engagementwith the rack 101 to prevent the lever 92 from pivoting forward to lowerthe frame 21. However, since the pawl is not needed when the arm 95 issecured by the wedge 100 for straight lifting and for lowering, it isconnected to the wedge 100 by a rod 110 in such a way that it is liftedout of engagement with the rack 101 when the wedge 100 is moved down tosecure the arm 95.

As may readily be seen, use of the arm 95 as a stepby-step leverutilizing the rack 101 as a fulcrum gives an increased mechanicaladvantage to the lifting mechanism 22. It is evident that the arms 95must move a greater distance to move the lever 92 a specified amountthan when it is secured as an extension of the lever 92. Since themoving distance is greater to lift an equal distance on the frame 21, itfollows that the force needed to move the arm 95 is lessened.

It is believed evident from the foregoing description than my improvedtillage implement provides for easy, eflicient, and economical soilcultivation. The rod 27 and shovels 54 which travel beneath the groundsurface are sturdily attached to the implement by supporting means'whichare designed to operate most effectively and yet cause a minimum of soildisturbance. The shovels are mounted for quick and easy angularadjustment with respect to the ground by mounting means which do notinterfere with the operation of the rotary rod. The drive mechanism forthe rod is designed for best performance with a minimum of parts, thussaving in manufacturing and repair costs. The lifting mechanism permitsthe implement to be readily adjusted to the proper cultivation depth andalso allows the operator to lift the rod and shovels clear of the groundwithout effort even under the most adverse conditions.

All of the elements in the device combine to provide a soil cultivatingimplement of great novelty and usefulness.

Havingthus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a tillage implement, a rotary rod supporting frame,v spaced apartrod supporting standards depending from said frame, bearing shoesmounted at the lower ends of said standards, a transverse rotary rodrotatably secured in said shoes, a center drive boot having a front walland spaced apart side walls depending from said frame, a shoe platefixed at'the lower end of one of said side walls of the boot, a secondshoe plate positioned at the lower end of the'opposite side wall, boltsextending through said second shoe plate and through said boot wherebyto secure the plate to the boot, a nose piece bolted between said shoeplates at the front thereof, each of said shoe plateshaving a squaredaperture therein, bearing members having squared portions intermediatetheir ends which are seated in said apertures, said bearing membershaving small cylindrical portions thereon extending outwardly from saidsquared portions, a drive sprocket journalled in said bearing members,said sprocket having a squared aperture therein receiving the transverserotary rod, a chain drivingly engaged with said sprocket and extendingupwardly to the frame, drive means on the frame to drive the chain, barmounting ears positioned outside of each shoe plate, said ears havingapertures therein receiving the small cylindrical portions of saidbearing members and being rotatably mounted thereon, said ears,extending rearwardly of the shoe plates and being bolted together attheir rear ends, means to adjust the ears angularly about the bearingmembers, bar receiving sockets on said ears, transverse bars secured'insaid sockets and extending outwardly therefrom, means on the bearingshoes to mount the bars for limited rotation about the rod, and aplurality of tillage shovels positioned in frontof the rod and mountedon said transverse bars.

2. In a tillage implement, a soil cultivating device comprising atransverse rotary rod, a drive mechanism for the rod, a series oftillage shovels, a transverse bar supporting said shovels, spaced apartstandards for supporting the rod, bearing shoes secured to saidstandards, said bearing shoes each having a rod receiving aperturetherein, a rod supporting bearing member seated in said aperture andextending outwardly at each side of said shoe, bar supporting platespivoted on said bearing member at each side of the shoe, means on theshoe securing the plates against transverse movement, and at least oneof the plates having a slot therein receiving and supporting thetransverse bar behind the rod for limited rotation about the rod.

3. In a tillage implement, a soil cultivating device comprising atransverse rotary rod, a drive mechanism for the rod, a series oftillage shovels, a transverse bar carrying said shovels, spaced apartstandards for supporting the rod, bearing shoes attached to the lowerends of said standards, each of said shoes having an aperture therein,said aperture having a front portion to receive the rod and a rearportion to receive the transverse bar, said rear portion being shaped topermit angular adjustment of the bar with respect to the rod, asemicircular bearing member having a raised annular rib thereonpositioned in the rod receiving portion of said aperture, a bearingspool non-rotatably mounted on the rod and extending through said rodreceiving portion 'of the aperture in front of said semicircularbearing, said semicircular bearing having an inner bearing surfacereceiving the spool, said semicircular bearing being wider than the shoeand extending outwardly at each side thereof, bar supporting platespositioned at each side of said shoe, said plates having aperturestherein receiving said outwardly extending semicircular bearing, aplurality of slots in said plates, said slots being curved about the rodas a center, bolts on said shoe extending through said slots, nutsthreaded on said bolts whereby to secure the 9 rplatesvragainsttransverse movement with respect to the 1. .shoe, andat least oneof-s'aidplates having a slot therein to .receivethetransversebarahdsupport itbehind the rod forangular adjustment. aboutthe rod.

4. In ajtillageimplement, a -soil cultivating device comprising attransverselrotary rod, adrive mechanism for the rod, a series oftillage'shovels, antransversepbar carrying-said .shovels'spaced,:apal'tmstandards for sup- .t porting the, rod, bearing..shoesattached to:the 1ower ends ofsaid standards, ,each.of:said.shoeshavingarod receive,

, ing r.aperture...therein rand .having a transverse barreceivingnaper-ture thereinqshapedto permitlimited angular adjustment ofthe barabout the rod as a center, said rod receiving apertureahaving afront -portion and a .rear

. :semicirculanportion of, largeradiameter thanssaid'front :portion, asemicircularbearingnmember having a raised annular rib thereomseatcdinsaidrear. semicircular portionof thewrodpreceiving,aperture, said.bearing being wider than the=shoeandextending outwardly at each side,thereof, barn-supportingplates positioned at-each'side of, .said .shoe,said -.platesahaving-aperturestherein receiving said outwardlyextendingbearjng member, ,a plurality of slots in said plates, saidslots being curved about-theerod as -a::eenter, bolts onsaidsshoewextending; through said a slots, -,nuts threadedon-thesboltsawhereby to clamp the plates :againstv the :shoe, ,andone.of-flsaid plates having a a slot therein to receive, and; supportathe:transverse-bar I behind .-the.- -rod' for limitedta-ngular@adjustment:about ..'the--rod. I

Inaztillagedmplement comprisingaa main support-v ,ing. frame, .a rod,supporting .tframe -.ov.erlying the main frame and :pivoted :thereto at(the front edge-,thereofr for vertical,angular adjustment, r a series of-spaced, apartwrod Q suppor-ting. standards depending: from said zrodsupporting frame, bearing shoes on said. standards, a transverse rotary..rodtjournalled in said shoes, a tdriveimechanismrforsthe rod,tthevimprovement intmeans for-Jaising: and lowering he-rodsupporting-frame with-respecttorthe main-frame ,omprisingartransversenshaftarotatably {secured to athe od gsupporting frame: atthe trear ,edgeihereof, a lever -plate fixed tot saidvshaft,arf-connectingrlinkpivoted to i said :plategandnpivoted tor-the mainframe-whereby to v-: changeithe. ,angularnrelation of-tthe rods-upporting 1 frame .:.:relative, to ,.the, :main,iramemponrotation of,-thezlever Wplate, ageansegment fixed to; rthe. rod supporting frame andextending vertically adjacent,the-lever plate, a lever arm pivotedtoqthe lever tplate-and having a-bifurcated t-xportion at:itswlowerz;end--receiving-i--thegear-segment, a t latch pin secured on.the lever-sarmfor longitudinal-1 movement; thereon, said-pinhaving a,horizontal gear iengaging portion at its lowerrend,said,horizontalgportionr extending through slots in thcr-bifurcatedt-endof :the lever warm and engagingthe gear,.-means.onathea-lever arm-toraise said I latch-pin out of engagement with the: gear segment, a

, guide strap mounted at: the uppera end" of the lever plate, Qzboltsat.:each iend'ofnthestrapssecuring it'to the plate, the leven armextending-between the) strap randthe-platevand r a; confined tollimitedpivotaL. movement betweenv the bolts, awedgememberipivoted to one ofthebolts andoperable 1,1. to swing, against theelever -armr-.and. wedge. it .;aga-ins,t-; the

opposite... bolt.;whereby to cprevent:pivotalnmovement, a

- of. said 1 frames wh'ereby' ;to;ialter :thezrangular, relation offlsaidframesxupontpirotingiofnthe plate,'a vertical gear segment mountedon the frame carrying the lever plate i-adiacen't :the ,plate, a leverarm pivoted to ,theflplate, a

latch pin mounted on the lever arm for, longitudinal ,,..movemen',tthereon, said latch pin having a gear segment engaging .portion'eng'aging said segment,, meanson, the

lever -v arm to lift thepin out of engagement with the 7 segment, meanson the lever vplate. to secure the arm against," pivotal movement withrespect to the plate, a

, pawl pivoted to theplate and engaging the, gear segment whereby toprevent movement of'the leversplate in one direction, anda conncctingrodconnecting: the pawl to the lever armtsecuring. means operable toliftthev pawl .outofengagemenbwiththe gear segment when the lever arm issecured.

. 7. In a:tillage. implement, a rotary rod supporting frame,spaced-apart rod,supporting standards depending fromsaid frame,-.bearing shoes mounted atthelower ends of said standards,'a transverserotary rod rotatably secured in' said shoe, a center drive boot having-afront wal1-,-and-spacedapartside walls depending from said (frame, ashoe plate-fixed at the lower end of one of a said-.. side walls oftherboot, a second'shoe plate posi- -.:.-tioned at.-the -lowerend of theopposite side wall, bolts 7 extending throughesaidxsecond shoe plate andthrough said bootwhereby to secure theplate to the boot, a nose 7 piecebolted between said shoe plates at the front-thereof, each of said shoeplates having a non-circular aperture therein,,--bearing members havingnon-circular portions shapedsimilar tovsaid apertures intermediate theirends which-are seated in said apertures, said bearingmembers 4-;havinglarger: head :portions thereonextending inwardly from saidnon-circular portions which are-positioned between :the :shoe plateswhereby to prevent-thebearing x;members:from-:slidingoutwardly through.said apertures,

said bearing-=members having small cylindrical portions .thereoriextending outwardlyfrom-said squared portions, a drivesprocketijournalled, in said bearing members, said sprocket havingasquared aperture-therein receivingthe transverse rotary rod, a chaindrivingly engaged with said sprocket and extending upwardly to theframe; drive mmeans on the frame to drive the chain, bar mounting earspositioned outside of each shoe :plate; said tears, having .7 apertures:therein receiving the small cylindrical .portions of. said bearing;members and being rotatably mounted thereon, said ears extendingrearwardly of the shoeplates and being bolted together at their rearends, means to adjust the ears angularly about the bearing members, barreceiving sockets on said ears, transverse bars secured in said socketsand extending outwardly therefrom, means on the bearing shoes to mountthe bars for limited rotation about the rod, and a plurality of tillageshovels positioned in front of the rod and mounted on said transversebars.

8. In a tillage implement, the combination with a supporting standard ofa transverse rotary rod, a rod bearing slidably but non-rotatablyreceiving the rod, a tillage point carrying bar, and means forrotatablysupporting said rotary rod bearing on the standard andsupporting said bar on the standard for limited angular movement'abontfixed on the standard and having an'aperture therein rethe rod as anaxis, said means comprising a bearingshoe ceiving the rod bearing;an-intermediate bearing member seated in the-aperture and having aninner bearing surface receiving the rodbearing for rotationthereagainst,

plates positioned, at eachv side of said bearing shoe and -against,saidintermediate bearing member whereby to .retain it therebetween, at leastone of said plates having means thereon spacedfrom the center of .therod for supi'porting said bar, and means for supporting said plates tothe shoe for limited angular movement about the rod as an axis.

9; Ina tillage implement, a soil cultivating device comprising-atransverse rotary rod, a drive mechanism for the wrod, aseries oftillagepoints, a transverse bar carrying said tillage points, spaced apartstandards for supporting member seated in said rod receiving aperture, arod hearing on the rod, said rod bearing being received in said rodreceiving aperture, the first named bearing member having an innerbearing surface receiving said rod bearing for rotation thereagainst,bar supporting plates positioned at each side of said shoe and retainingsaid first named bearing member therebetween, said plates having aper-,tures therein receiving the rod, a plurality of slots in said plates,said slots being curved about the rod as a center, bolts on said shoeextending through said slots whereby to support the plates 'on the shoefor limited angular adjustment about the rod as a center, nuts threadedon the bolts to clamp the plate to the shoe, and bar supporting means onat least one of the plates spaced from the rod for supporting the barfor limited angular adjustment about the rod as an axis.

10. In a tillage implement, a soil cultivating device comprising atransverse rotary rod, a drive mechanism for the rod, a series oftillage shovels, a transverse bar carrying said shovels, spaced apartstandards for supporting the rod, bearing shoes attached to the lowerends of said standards, each of said shoes having an aperture therein,said aperture having a frontportion to receive the rod and a rearportion to receive the transverse bar, said rear portion being shaped topermit angular adjustment of the bar with respect to the rod, asemicircular bearing member having a raised annular ri-b thereonpositioned in the rod receiving portion of said aperture, a bearingspool non-rotatably mounted on the rod and extending through said rodreceiving portion of the aperture in front of said semicircular bearing,said semicircular bearing having an inner bearing surface receiving thespool, said semicircular bearing being wider than the shoe and extendingoutwardly at each side thereof, bar supporting plates positioned at eachside of said shoe, said plates having apertures therein receiving saidoutwardly extending semicircular bearing, means for supporting saidplates to the shoe for limited angular movement about the rod as anaxis, and means on at least one of said plates for supporting said bar.

11. In a tillage implement, a soil cultivating device comprising atransverse rotary rod, a drive mechanism for the rod, a series oftillage shovels, a transverse bar carv rying said shovels, spaced apartstandards for supporting the rod, bearing shoes attached to the lowerend of said standards, each of said shoes having a rod receivingaperture therein and having a transverse bar receiving aperture thereinshaped to permit limited angular adjustment of the bar about the rod asa center, said rod receiving aperture having a front portion and a rearsemicircular portion of larger diameter than said front portion, asemicircular bearing member having a raised annular rib thereon seatedin said rear semicircular portion of the rod receiving aperture, saidbearing being wider than the shoe and extending outwardly at each sidethereof, bar supporting plates positioned at each side of said shoe,said plates having apertures therein receiving said outwardly extendingbearing member, means for supporting said plates to the shoe for limitedpivotal movement on said outwardly extending bearing member about therod as an axis, and means on at least one of said plates .for supportingsaid bar.

12. In a tillage implement of the character described, a center driveboot, a first shoe plate fixed on said boot, a second shoe plateseparably connected to said boot and spaced transversely from said firstshoe plate, a drive sprocket positioned between said shoe plates, hubportions at each side of said sprocket, said sprocket and said hubportions having rod receiving apertures therein, a weeding rod extendingthrough said apertures, bearing -members having inner bearing surfacestherein receiving and rotatably supporting said hub portions, saidbearing members having polygonal portions thereon, said first and Isecond shoe plat es having polygonal apertures therein non-rotatablyreceiving said bearing members whereby to mount said bearing members inthe shoe plates, and said hearing members having enlarged portionsthereon adjacent the polygonal portions and positioned between the shoeplates whereby to prevent the bearing members from moving outwardly.

13. ha tillage implement of the character described,

i a center drive boot, a first shoe plate fixed on said boot,

a second shoe plate separably connected to said boot and spacedtransversely from said first shoe plate, a drive sprocket positionedbetween said shoe plates, hub portions at each side of said sprocket,said sprocket and said hub portions having rod receiving aperturestherein, a weeding rod extending through said apertures, ,bearingmembers having inner bearing surfaces therein receiving androtatablysupporting said hub portions, said first and second shoe plateshaving apertures therein receiving said bearing members whereby to mountsaid bearing members in the shoe plates, and said bearing members havingenlarged portions thereon positioned between the shoe plates whereby toprevent the bearing members from moving outwardly.

14. In a tillage implement having a rod supporting frame, spaced apartrod supporting standards depending from said frame, and a transverserotary rod rotatably supported at the lower ends of said standards, theimprovement in center drive means for the rod comprising a center driveboot depending from said frame, a first shoe plate fixed on said boot, asecond shoe plate separably connected to said boot and spacedtransversely from said first shoe plate, each of said shoe plates havinga polygonal aperture therein, bearing members having inner bearingsurfaces and having polygonal portions thereon non-rotatably received insaid polygonal apertures in said shoe plates whereby to mount saidbearing members in the shoe plates, said bearing members having enlargedportions adjacent said polygonal portions and positioned between saidshoe plates whereby to prevent said bearing members from movingtransversely out of said shoe plates, a sprocket between said shoeplates, said sprocket having hub portions thereon rotatably received inthe bearing members whereby to mount said sprocket between the shoeplates, said sprocket being non-rotatably mounted on the rod, and drivemeans on the rod carrying frame for driving the sprocket.

15. In a tillage implement, a rotary rod supporting frame, spaced apartrod supporting standards depending from said frame, bearing shoesmounted at the lower ends of said standards, a transverse rotary rodrotatably secured in said shoes, a center drive boot depending from saidframe, a first shoe plate fixed to said boot, a second shoe plateseparably connected to the boot and transversely spaced from said firstshoe plate, each of said shoe plates having an aperture therein, bearingmembers seated in said apertures, said bearing members having enlargedportions thereon positioned between said plates whereby to prevent thebearing members from moving transversely outwardly from the shoe plates,said bearing members having cylindrical portions extending outwardlyfrom the shoe plates, a drive sprocket journalled in said bearingmembers between the shoe plates, said sprocket having an aperturetherein non-rotatably receiving the rotary rod, drive means on the framedrivingly connected to the sprocket, bar mounting ears positionedoutside of each shoe plate, said ears having apertures therein receivingthe outwardly extending cylindrical portions of said bearing members andbeing rotatably mounted thereon, said ears extending rearwardly of theshoe plates and being connected together near their rear ends, means toadjust the ears angularly about the bearing members, bar mounting meanson the ears, transverse bar means secured to said last named means andextending outwardly therefrom, means on the bearing shoes to mount'thebar means for limited rotation about the rotary rod, and a plurality oftillage shovels mounted on said transverse bar means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 14Calkins et a1 May 12, 1942 Richmond May 4, 1943 Calkins May 9, 1950Wolfe June 24, 1952 Guyer Mar. 17, 1957

